Uncle Tom and Eliza's child are sold to Haley, a slave dealer. When Eliza learns that her son is to be taken from her, she steals the boy and runs away. Her flight is discovered. The slave crosses the ice-filled river and joins her husband, George Harris, who is also a runaway slave. The two foil their pursuers and get away. Uncle Tom is placed aboard a steamboat to be taken down the river. Later, he saves the life of little Eva, who has fallen overboard. St, Clare, her father, purchases Uncle Tom in gratitude for the slave's heroism, Uncle Tom and Eva become firm friends. St. Clare, as a joke, presents Aunt Ophelia, his New England relative, with Topsy, a mischievous imp. Always a delicate child, Eva fades away and dies. Shortly afterward, St. Clare is killed while attempting to stop a saloon brawl. His estate is sold and Uncle Tom is purchased by Simon Legree. One of the field hands turns in a cotton basket that is short weight. Uncle Tom is ordered to flog the woman. Upon his refusal, Legree orders Tom flogged. Later, Emmaline and Cassie, two slaves, hide themselves in an attempt to escape. Legree believes that Uncle Tom knows their hiding place. He orders the old slave to reveal the whereabouts of the two women. When Tom pleads ignorance, Legree has him flogged to death. Young Shelby, the son of Uncle Tom's former master, comes upon the scene just as the faithful old slave dies. The boy turns furiously upon Legree and knocks the man down. Legree drowns the humiliation of the blow in drink and dies in delirium shortly afterward. Shelby reverently takes Uncle Tom's body back to the old plantation, where it is laid away near the old slave's cabin.